Japan’s Suntory Celebrates Rolling Stones’ 50th

Japan’s Suntory beverage behemoth (best known beyond Japan for Bill Murray’s “Suntory Time” commercial in Lost in Translation) has made 2012 the year of the Rolling Stones, with a Stones Bar series celebrating the anniversary and stirring up such boozy tributes to the band as Rolling Hop beer, Rolling Gold “bottled cocktail,” and a Citrus Highball.

Now Suntory (which develops customized drinks for Japanese tastebuds such as wacky-flavored Pepsi varieties) is outdoing itself with the ultimate Stones-themed alcoholic beverage: a limited-edition whisky. How limited? Only 150 bottles were released on Oct. 30.

The “whisky is a blend of carefully selected malts distilled and casked in milestone years throughout the band’s 50 year history, including a malt from the year the band formed that has been long-aged in mizunara (Japanese oak) casks.” It comes in a crystal bottle (even though crystal is for the 15th anniversary) that has the lips and tongue logo cut in relief on the front of the bottle as well as a diamond-shaped decorative stopper.